Emergency thoracotomy recommendations

• Thoracotomy sets should be immediately available within the resus bay of any trauma unit or trauma centre

• Thoracotomy sets should be fit for purpose, considering the minimal equipment needed to fix the underlying problem, not just to open the chest

• Sets must be sterile, and kept up to date

• In addition to the sets themselves, sterile gloves and gowns should be immediately available.

Thoracotomy set recommended by CARE; RT1 and RT2

• Two separate sets; RT1 to open the chest, RT2 to fix the underlying injury.

• Trauma units can use this as a standard upon which to base their emergency thoracotomy set

• This standard has been compiled by a working group of trauma clinicians and cardiothoracic surgeons with experience of dealing with cardiothoracic trauma.

RT1: Performing a thoracotomy

RT2: Fixing the underlying problem

Equipment:

1. Gigli Saw,

2. Kidney dish,

3. 2x scalpel,

4. 2x spencer wells artery forceps,

5. 2x long debakey forceps,

6. 2x metzenbaum scissors,

7. 2x plaster shears,

8. 5 large swabs or packs

Equipment:

1. Medium swabs,

2. 2 x Finochiectto retractors,

3. Foley catheter,

4. Internal defibrillator,

5. 5 x Artery forceps,

6. Teflon pledgets,

7. Sutures,

8. Long needle holder,

9. 2x roberts forceps.

10. Long vascular clamp,